Friday, September 28, 2012

Yep, I'm slacking again. I didn't do anything bike related last weekend, I spent the time doing fun stuff with the Wife to build up brownie points to cover the next couple of weeks worth of stuff I'll be doing. So I thought I'd take advantage of this lull to post the flyer for the upcoming Bama Swap and Drag. Rick and Michael put a LOT of work into these swap meets and they are well worth the effort to support them. Be there or be square!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Saturday I met up with JT at the Tip Top Grill in Bluff Park to go for a little ride. Since I didn't know how far I could ride without the sprained wrist bothering me we decided we would just ride over to The Ridge in Rocky Ridge to eat, then decide from there where to go next. I've been trying to meet up with JT for a while to give him some of my blog goodies and this seemed like a good time. JT told me he had a small Birthday present for me so I was kinda excited about that too. We met up and JT proceeds to give me the coolest little patch. Not only was it a cool patch, but it was one that he had made FOR me by iron threads. It seems that I had commented on how cool a graphic on FB would be as a patch and JT decided he would make that happen. I am totally blown away by how cool that is and am looking for a worthy place to sew it on. It MUST be displayed properly. By the way, check out JT's blog at jbmft.blogspot.com.

JT arriving at the meeting place.

The Über cool patch ready to be sewn on. I really love this since first off, it was made for me by a good friend and second because it ties into one of my oldest tattoos.

On the way to eat.

JT at a stop sign waiting to go.

Beard in the wind! Makes me wish I could grow a decent beard.I guess I'm just not manly enough.

After we ate we talked about where to go. We wanted to head over to Garco since JT hasn't been to the new shop and I'm always up for a visit there. We checked the time though and realized it was getting close to time for the Alabama game to start, and if you know Alabama fans you know that you do NOT interrupt the game unless you're there to join the party. I can promise you that Larry and Ashley (especially Ashley) are HUGE Bama fans so we decided to stick closer to town and swing by the Dojo. Besides I've only been there a couple of times and was overdue to check in with the guys.

We got there and Nick was the only one there. It seems as usual most of them were still hung over and not out and about yet. They showed up in a little bit, but this way we had a chance to check out Nick's panhead project.

Still got a few parts to scrounge up, but you can see that so far it is looking pretty damn good.

Nick trying not to laugh as I was taking the pic.

I dig the classic lines and the different yet traditional back fender. Nick is still looking for an 18" rear wheel, but otherwise it's a roller.

Probably my last time to see the Weed Steed. Duane was supposed to meet a buyer from Florida on Sunday to finally sell it. Kinda sad to see it leave, but Duane's a married man now and needs the cash t buy the new Wife a house. He still has plenty of wheels to keep him rolling.

Duane was trying to clean the threads on the neck stem of this old springer.

Teiichi is back in town but I didn't get to see him. His bike is looking pretty bad ass though. I REALLY liked the oil tank and the way he used big twin axle plates on his hardtail.

Moon rolled in and was trying to find the source of a noise on his shovelhead. We're pretty sure it's a leaking head gasket.

So we stuck around the Dojo for a little while and then decided to head home. JT had stuff going on and my wrist was starting to ache. On the way home I stopped at the book store to see if the new Cycle Source had made it yet. My Brother Roadside Marty has been pushing me to get better and to get more
exposure of my pictures. To help with that he's had me do a couple of
photoshoots and the first one I did for him is in the new issue! That's right, I got my first feature in a magazine and I'm pretty stoked about it. I have to thank Marty and Chris Callen for pushing and helping me do this. I hope I can make this a regular thing, I guess I'll just have to step up my game and we'll see how it goes.

I walked into the store and made my way back to the magazines and there it was right in front of me!!

Of course I had to flip to it and see how it looked. All I can say is that I feel so honored to have my work on those pages.

Sunday I didn't do much, just got into the garage and pulled the Flyrite out to make a list of what I still need to buy, do and make to get it running. I made an order Sunday night with most of what I need, but I still have to make/buy a battery box and oil tank. I need a bunch of welding done too. Hopefully that can happen soon.

Sitting in my chair staring at the bike and making a list.

The Bad Boy was outside, but the Triumph is still sitting patiently for me to get enthusiastic about her again.

Once again it was a good weekend and I have to say that thanks to JT for the Kustom Patch, the Riding and the Brotherhood. Also to my Brother Roadside Marty and the Inbreds RC as well as friends like Larry, Loaf, Nick and the many others, because of y'all I am at a very good place in my life. I also have to thank my wife Allison for the support and encouragement even when I start to doubt myself and try to get lazy with my pics. Sorry to get all mushy, but sometimes these things just need to be said.

Get out and ride while the weather is cooler and hopefully I'll have some more stuff for you soon.

Monday, September 17, 2012

As I told you before, the family and I went to Gatlinburg and rented a cabin over Labor Day weekend. It was my Birthday that weekend so I took advantage to twist some arms and get to do what I wanted to do ;-) One of those things was to stop in and see the replica Batmobile in the Star Cars museum. Since only Blake (future son in law) and I wanted to do this we sent the others over to the aquarium and then proceeded to have ourselves some fun. The cars in the this museum are a mix or real Star cars and replicas. You really have to know what you're talking about though to tell with most of them. I'm a complete Bat-Nerd and have spent a lot of time over the years on the forums at www.1966batmobile.com so I knew ahead of time the pedigree of this Bat-replica. The people at the museum believe it's really one of the original Barris replica's because George Barris told them it was. They don't know George's history of saying whatever will make him the most money with these cars ;-) This one IS a Bob Butts built replica and is a part of Batmobile history, but it's not that old or historical. It IS still cool though and I got to sit in it.

Me sitting in the driver's seat feeling like a bad-ass, and looking like a total nerd.

The lines of this car are SO much better than any other car that has carried the Batmobile name since.

It may not be the best replica, but it's the best I've gotten to sit in.

You can still see the Ford Futura concept car in the lines of the current car.

Me standing next to it.

And for Blake I took pics of the 1989 Keaton Batmobile (the one he grew up with). This one is nothing more than a fiberglass shell over a bare frame. I stuck my camera underneath just to see and all I could see was the bare parts to keep the body off the ground. It was still cool for Blake to see just how big the beast is though. Like I said, some cars are real and some are not in this place.

Johnny Blaze's bike from Ghost Rider. This one looks right, but I'm not sure if it is real or not. Close enough for me though.

It would be a fun bike to ride even if it is all new or repop.

I thought it was cool of them to make the bike resemble the Capt. America bike as a kind of tribute to Fonda being in the movie.

The car behind it is supposed to be "Dom's" car from Fast and Furious, but I doubt it. The car would make engine noises every once in a while and the belt/pulley on the blower would start turning. If it was the real movie car I doubt they would have changed it like that. It did look cool though.

I know this is NOT the real Dragula but it IS a great replica. The real one is supposed to be hanging in a restaurant somewhere out west last I heard. This one has been here in this museum for a long time, it was here the last time I visited in 2004.

Bandit from Smokey and the Bandit! The one guy I talked to who seemed to actually be knowledgeable wasn't sure if this one was used in the movie, but it IS actually owned by Burt Reynolds and is being leased from him by the museum.

If this isn't the real Beverly Hillbilly's car (from the newer movie, not the TV show) then a lot of work was done to make it as close as possible.

This one looked legit too, but I have no idea since I've never bothered to do any research on it.

The props inside look pretty hollywoodish, that means good enough for a camera, but kinda crappy looking up close.

This car was owned by Hank Willams Sr.

Not sure how this is supposed to be famous, but I've always loved the Indy Pace Car paint on '69 SS Camaros.

The sign said this Buick was owned by Bob Hope and there was a picture of him with this car, or one just like it.

This was supposed to be "bumblebee" from the transformer movie. Another one that seemed real but I can't tell for sure.

Herbie from the new movie. It had papeerwork on display with it to show it was legit.

Last but not least Eleanor from the new "Gone in 60 seconds" movie. Very beautiful car for sure.

That's it for today, the weekend was full of fun stuff, but I'll probably post most of the other pics on my other photo blog since it is more oriented to that type of picture taking.

Friday, September 14, 2012

I know I haven't been updating like I should lately, but to be honest I've been too busy and tired. I went to the Bastard Bash with Loaf around the 18th of August then the next weekend I went to the Sidewalk Film Festival with my wife Allison on Saturday and then we worked as volunteers for the Festival on Sunday. The next weekend (Labor Day) we took the (grown) kids with us to Gatlinburg for my birthday weekend where we had a LOT of fun. It was possibly the best Birthday Weekend EVER! I got to hike back to a cabin that has connections to my family, Blake and I went into the Star Cars museum while the rest of them went to the Aquarium. In the museum I got to sit in a replica of a Batmobile from the 1966 Adam West TV series I ate great steaks and drank great microbrew beers all weekend. All in all a good weekend except for when I slipped on some rocks in Pigeon Forge Monday morning before we left and gashed my hand and sprained my wrist. A band aid later and we were on the road though. The wrist did keep me home Sunday trying to rest and recover. I needed it since Saturday we went to Artwalk downtown and walked around looking at all the cool stuff and visiting with my artist friends. I even bought a cool print of some Batman art. I told you all of that to explain what's been happening and to set up the pictures in this post. All of these pics are from Artwalk and there are even a few bike pics tossed in. I hope to be updating a little more regularly, but I am spending more time with the family so it may be hot or miss for a while.

I was walking around and saw Moon's shovel sitting outside Faith Skate shop. It's a cool setting so I took some pics.

The other side.

When we go downtown Allison and I like to wander down the alleys and look for cool stuff to take pictures of. This was a wall that had been covered in something in the past, but it's been removed now showing the sloppy mortar job.

I love the old advertising painted on the sides of buildings.

Another example.

I crossed the street and shot some more pics of Moon's bike.

Zoomed in and out, turned the camera etc. etc. trying to get an interesting picture.

Also took a bunch of pics of pigeons on the wires and street lights.

And finally some more pics of Moon's bike.

I'll be posting some pics from the Gatlinburg trip soon. Hopefully I'll have some more bike stuff soon too.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Sorry I took so long, but it was a GREAT weekend and I'm STILL tired from all the fun I had. Because of that this will be a pic heavy/text light post. Here are a few pics from the museum plus a bunch of pics of our ride back to Deals Gap. Hope ya like the pics and I'll try to post more soon.

BEAUTIFUL panhead inside the Wheels Through Time Museum.

Part of the wall behind the panhead. I could have stared at this for hours.

Sweet Knucklehead in the museum.

Gas tank from one of my childhood heroes' bike. Evel is one of the main reasons I got into bikes in the first place when I was just a small kid.

Casey leaving the museum.

Vin on his crazy cafe racer.

Walt the Rager on his way to eat.

"I'm starving let's eattttttt!!!!"

Terrorizing Maggie Valley on our way to lunch.

Stretch styling for the citizen's.

The lucky place that got to serve us lunch.

Justin on his crazy Canadian Sporty!

On the way over the mountain into Cherokee.

Blasting the curve.

What a great ride back, we hit some serious curves on Hwy 28 and had TOOO much fun.